The Uses and Significance of Group Two Compounds

736 Words2 Pages

The Uses and Significance of Group Two Compounds

The group two elements consist of Beryllium, Magnesium, Calcium,

Strontium, Barium and Radium. These are known as the ‘Group Two

elements’ because of their unique electron division. Each one of these

elements, consists of two outer shell electrons. Because of the lack

of outer electrons, these elements are highly reactive. Group two

electrons have a positive Two charge or +ve. The Group 2 elements are

all metals with a shiny, silvery-white colour. The alkaline earth

metals are high in the reactivity series of metals, but not as high as

the alkali metals of Group 1. These elements are all found in the

Earth’s crust, but not in the elemental form as they are so reactive.

Instead, they are widely distributed in rock structures. The metals of

Group 2 are harder and denser than sodium and potassium, and have

higher melting points. The chemical properties of Group 2 elements are

dominated by the strong reducing power of the metals. The elements

become increasingly electropositive on descending the Group. The last

element in Group 2, Radium, is not yet definite in terms of melting

points or density due to its very strong radioactivity emission.

Beryllium is used for X-ray windows (Beryllium transmits X-rays 17

times better than aluminium), as a 2% alloy with nickel for springs,

electrodes and non-sparking tools. Beryllium (2%) alloyed with copper

gives a hard strong alloy with high resistance to wear used in

gyroscopes, computer parts, and instruments. Magnesium is used in

flares and pyrotechnics, including incendiary bombs. It was used in

flash photography and is lighter than aluminium. It ...

... middle of paper ...

...er, as we rarely use its

purified version. Due to the participation of Magnesium, Carbon

dioxide reacts with water to form carbonic acid which at ordinary

environmental pH exists mostly as bicarbonate ions. Microscopic marine

organisms take this up as carbonates to form calcite skeletons which,

over millions of years, have built up lots of limestone deposits.

Ground waters, made slightly acidic by CO2 (both that absorbed from

the air and from soil bacteria) dissolve the limestone, therefore

enduing up with calcium and bicarbonate ions and becoming "hard”. All

of the above only forms a very small minority of the potential of

group two elements, which gives us an indication of the importance and

significance that they all posses to one and other and most

importantly, to us and the daily industrial procedures carried out.

More about The Uses and Significance of Group Two Compounds

Open Document